'Make it one-way this way'

PUBLISHED: 11:16 21 August 2006 | UPDATED: 09:44 24 May 2010

A CAMPAIGNING resident has drawn up a scheme to make a busy route in and out of Clevedon one way. John Manwaring, of Meadow Road, has submitted plans to Clevedon Town Council and North Somerset Council to make Old Street one way from the roundabout at Hi

A CAMPAIGNING resident has drawn up a scheme to make a busy route in and out of Clevedon one way.John Manwaring, of Meadow Road, has submitted plans to Clevedon Town Council and North Somerset Council to make Old Street one way from the roundabout at Highdale Avenue to East Clevedon Triangle. The traffic would be restricted to going out of town only with new parking bays and chicanes added.Mr Manwaring said: "I drew up this scheme primarily because of the problems we have with parking in Meadow Road."There are lots of restrictions in Old Street such as double yellow lines which mean people park on the side roads, leaving no spaces for residents."The plans include creating new, staggered parking bays with chicanes, wider pavements and narrowing the road. Also put forward are proposals to plant mature trees and add street furniture to enhance the character of the road.Traffic from the Portishead direction would be routed to the town centre along Northern Way, while drivers wanting to access Hill Road would go via Highdale Road.Mr Manwaring added: "I think this scheme would work as it would help the flow of traffic around the town."It would also allow the pavement to be widened along Old Street where it is too narrow for wheelchairs or mobility scooters to pass each other in safety."Road narrowing to create parking bays would also mean increased safety for schoolchildren and other pedestrians when crossing Old Street."Residents in Meadow Road have been campaigning for several years for a solution to parking problems in their street. They say the situation has only got worse since the former Yeates Removal depot site was developed for housing.Clevedon Town Council chairman David Shopland was knocked over on the crossing in Old Street in December and spent weeks in hospital recovering from his injuries.Councillor Shopland said: "The problem of introducing a one-way system raises the question, which way? If the system ran out of town, then a number of large businesses in Old Street would have to route all their traffic through the Triangle, which in itself would cause problems. However, it is a matter which has to be fully explored before we can give a definite opinion."A spokesman for North Somerset Council said: "We always welcome suggestions by town councils and residents about improvements to our roads.